Remote Valve Actuator for Hazardous Fluid Delivery Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hazardous-fluid delivery vehicles and storage tanks lack a safe mechanism to remotely control the flow of hazardous fluids, risking personal injury and environmental disasters in case of hose malfunctions or leaks.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a valve assembly and actuator system that allows an operator at a safe distance to control the flow of hazardous fluids between a delivery vehicle and a storage tank, ensuring the valve defaults to a closed position in case of leaks or disconnections, minimizing spillage and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manually-operated valve is used to control hazardous fluid flow, then the valve can be easily operated and maintained, but the operator is exposed to personal injury and environmental disaster risks when hose malfunctions occur
Solution Approach 1:
A remote actuator system is introduced as an intermediary device between the operator and the valve. The actuator is positioned at a safe distance from the hazardous fluid connection point and can remotely open or close the valve through a hose connection, allowing the operator to control fluid flow without being exposed to potential leaks or malfunctions at the valve location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the actuator unit positioned at a safe distance, the hose connecting the actuator to the valve, and the valve assembly at the storage tank. This segmentation allows the operator to remain separated from the hazardous area while still controlling the valve, reducing exposure to harmful factors.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the operator positions themselves at a safe distance from the valve assembly, then personal injury risk is reduced, but the operator cannot manually close the valve in case of hose malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system is designed to be self-contained and portable, allowing it to service the valve from a remote location. The actuator can be positioned near the control section of the delivery vehicle and still effectively control the valve at the storage tank, providing both safety distance and operational reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a remote actuator system is implemented, then operator safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed as a universal device that can be used with different storage tanks and delivery vehicle configurations. It provides multiple functions: remote valve control, safety distance maintenance, and potential use in various hazardous fluid handling scenarios, justifying the added complexity through versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is for a hazardous-fluid delivery vehicle configured to convey a hazardous fluid, and for a storage tank configured to receive the hazardous fluid. The apparatus includes a fluid-input section configured to fluidly connect with the hazardous-fluid delivery vehicle. A valve assembly is in fluid communication with the fluid-input section. A fluid-output section is configured to fluidly connect the valve assembly with the storage tank. A valve actuator is operatively coupled to the valve assembly. The valve actuator is configured to actuate the valve assembly between a valve-closed state and a valve-opened state for the case where the valve actuator receives an actuation signal from an operator that is situated at a predetermined safe distance from the valve assembly. The predetermined safe distance is located proximate to the control section of the hazardous-fluid delivery vehicle.